Revised August 2006
Syllabus/First Day
handout
SPC203 ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS
It is the student’s
responsibility to be familiar with the guidelines set up for this class as well
as the guidelines pertaining to RMCC which are found in the current RMCC
catalog and/or student handbook.
Instructor: Susanna Mosley
Office Location: Room 203, Spencer Hall
Class Location: _______________
Office Hours: See schedule posted on office door.
Telephone: College (479) 394-7622, Ext. 1338 Home (479)394-3281
E-mail: smosley@rmcc.edu
General Outcome
Expectation:
The student will verbally communicate effectively because of course expectations that lead to enhanced development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills.
“The ability to
express an idea is well nigh as important as the idea itself.”
--
Bernard Baruch
General Description:
Another name for this class could be Introduction to Oral Communication. We will cover theory and practice of communication in interpersonal, small group, and public speaking emphasizing proficiency in speech organization, delivery, and critical thinking/listening applications. For transfer purposes within the Arkansas Statewide Transfer System Index, the course number could be SPCH 1003 but at RMCC the course number if SPC203.
General Expected
Student Learning Outcomes:
This course is designed to develop confidence in the student’s ability to communicate effectively. Students will demonstrate the following competencies:
· Critical thinking and listening skills
· Research and organizational skills
· Verbal and non-verbal presentation skills
· Knowledge of oral communication theory
RMCC Instructional
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to control stage-fright – not get rid of it completely.
2. The student will be able to analyze his/her audience before speaking.
3. The student will be able to understand how to improve his/her listening skills.
4. The student will be able to organize a speech using three major sections: the introduction with a transition sentence leading into the body, a body with traditionally three main points, and a conclusion with a transition phrase leading into the conclusion.
5. The student will be able to develop and make oral presentations of speeches by placing emphasis on careful topic selection, gathering of materials (research), using credible sources and sound reasoning.
6. The student will be able to explain the theory of communication based on the most recent research related to the first and second brain.
7. The student will be able to understand how to participate in small group and interpersonal situations.
8. The student will be able to understand how to participate in a reader’s theater presentation.
9. The student will be able to understand how to record material for broadcast over radio.
“Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” -- Lou Holtz
Critical Thinking
Skills:
This class requires a student to use their general knowledge and critical thinking skills. During this semester students will be expected to analyze problems, arrive at intelligent conclusions, and make reasoned choices regarding the selection of speech topics, the use of facts and supporting materials, and the evaluation of what they and their fellow students say in class.
Inquiring Minds Want
to Know…
Do you have any hobbies? Do you collect anything? Do you have any pets? Do you have a favorite sport? Do you want to work for someone else or for yourself? Do you know who named you, why they chose this name, and what your name means? Do you have a favorite quote or Bible verse? Do you know any poem or song lyric from memory? Do you have a hero, heroine, or role model? Do you know who you want to be? Do you know what you want to do? Do you have a favorite movie or book? Do you have a favorite place to go to get away from the day-to-day routines? Do you have a way to reward yourself for your accomplishments? Do you have a personal short-term goal? Do you know what you want to be doing five years from now?
Your instructor wants to know…
How do you personally define quality of life and standard of living?
Quality of Life:
Standard of Living:
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Required
Material:
1. Textbook. 38 Basic Speech Experiences, Clark S. Carlile, latest edition.
2. Audio-Visual (A-V) aid materials (There will be NO use of PowerPoint.)
A. light colored poster board
B. dark colored magic marker
3. One VHS video cassette tape. (Can be used or new.)
4. Speech outline required for every speech with resources listed. (See last page of this document.)
5. Folder for handouts distributed throughout the semester, including this first-day handout! Please bring the folder with handouts to ever class.
Textbook:
The latest edition of the textbook has up-to-date sample speeches, colored photos, etc. Take advantage of your textbook by using it to read sample speeches and choose speech topics as you prepare your presentations and discussions.
Supplemental
Textbooks (NOT required):
Throughout this semester you will be putting into practice the theory of oral communications which is discussed in detail in the following books:
1. You have to be Believed to be Heard by Bert Decker (a public speaking guru)
2. You are the Message by Roger Ailes (Now president of FOX News but he became a significant speech person because he was Ronald Reagan’s speech coach.)
3. To Have or to Be by Erich Fromm (psychologist)
Your instructor wants
to know…
Do you have a computer with access to the Internet at home? ________
Do you know where RMCC has computer rooms for use by students? Please list:
Methods of Instruction: Student presentation, discussion, lecture, and video tape.
Attendance Policy: In order to have a class where student participation is an extremely important ingredient, punctuality and class attendance are absolutely necessary. This is particularly true when fellow students are presenting their speeches. More than two absences for a two-days-a-week class are considered excessive. A student may not make-up more than two speeches or more than a combination of one speech and one exam.
It is important for you to give a speech or to take an exam on the assigned day unless an emergency or illness occurs. If this happens, please call me and leave a message on my office telephone or e-mail me. You can also leave a written message by pushing it under my office door. I will NOT accept a message from another student or SSS. It is not important to talk to me in person. Just leave a message! The message must be sent PRIOR to the class meeting time or an “F” will be recorded for the missed speech or exam.
It is rare but in the past I have had a student attend class and not give an assigned speech. A student will receive an “F” for an assigned speech if the student is in class and chooses not to speak (for whatever reason).
Being absent if not a satisfactory excuse for not being prepared for any assignment including speeches and exams.
Outline of Speech: The student will not be allowed to present a speech without a written outline. Copies of the outline form are available in the folder taped to my office door. A copy of the form is also attached to this handout.
Make-Up Work: All make-up work will be done at the end of the semester during finals week. (see Attendance Policy for more information)
Semester Calendar: Even if you are a high school student, we will follow the RMCC calendar for breaks, testing periods, and weather days.
Bad weather procedure: Listen to local radio and TV stations for RMCC to be closed in case of bad weather. If a test or speech is assigned for the day the college is closed, your instructor will make adjustments and announce the make-up process the next time the class meets. Frequently, RMCC is closed only for a morning with afternoon and evening classes meeting. If this is the case, oral communications will meet the afternoon or evening class. Sometimes RMCC is closed for classes but faculty and classified staff report to work. If this is the class, please do NOT come to class thinking we will meet if the faculty and staff are on the job. LISTEN to the announcements for details regarding bad weather OR go to the college’s website: www.rmcc.edu
Academic Dishonesty
Policy:
Please don’t say anything to anyone except your instructor once an exam has started. Any talking will be judged as giving or receiving answers. Showing your test to others will be judged as cheating. Use common sense. Cheating on an exam or assignment will result in an “F” for that work.
All speeches must be original. They must be specifically created by the speaker for out class and based on the speaker’s own knowledge, experience, and research. A speaker is expected to use a variety of credible sources. In NO case will a speech based solely on an article in an encyclopedia or magazine such as Reader’s Digest be acceptable. Plagiarism in any assignment -- written or spoken -- will result in an “F” for that work.
Grading and Testing
Procedures:
1. One written, final exam will be given over the lecture material and textbook. The final written exam is worth TWO letter grades.
2. Usually, seven presentations will be given:
A. Oral Interpretation -- page 242
B. The Speech to Inform – page 102
C. The Speech to Gain Goodwill – page 138
D. The Speech to Persuade or to Motivate – page 116 or page 130
E. The Sales Talk – page 280
F. The Commencement Address (Speech to Inspire) – page 232
G. The Radio Commercial – page 347
A letter grade will be given for each presentation. The total number of grades is eight. At the end of the semester all of the letter grades will be translated into points and averaged together. Points are assigned as follows:
A+ =12
A =11
A- =10
B+ =9
B =8
B- =7
C+ =6
C =5
C- =4
D+ =3
D =2
D- =1
F =0
KEEP READING…
For a grade to average to the next highest letter grade, the mathematical computation must be .6 or better. For example: an average of 9.6 will be an A- letter grade. An average of 9.5 will be a B+ letter grade. Even a 9.59 will be a B+ letter grade.
Speech Evaluation:
1. To receive an A, the speech must meet the time limit. If a speech does not meet the time limit, the highest grade that a student can earn for the speech is B+. For this class, all of the speeches are to be from 4 to 6 minutes long. Do not go by the textbook time limits. We will use 4 to 6 minutes. The time limit for the oral interpretation presentation is 1 to 2 minutes including the introduction of the poetry or prose. The time limit for the radio commercial is 28-31 seconds. The ideal time is exactly 30 seconds.
2. An outline with sources listed must be provided for the instructor
Outline expectations --state purpose of speech
--state point of view statement
--list of main points in body
--writing/typing neat, easy-to-read
--bibliography of speech sources
3. A student will be graded by the instructor using the following rubric:
Delivery – used adequate and inclusive eye contact
--used effective vocal tone, rate and volume, energy, clear articulation, varied inflection, no vocal fillers, good choice of words
--used effective body language, posture, poise, gestures, movement, self- control, facial expression
--delivery contributed to the credibility of the speaker by emphasizing sincerity, confidence, and dynamism
Topic --original
--appropriate for assignment and audience
--substantive
--narrowed sufficiently
Introduction --captured attention
--stated point of view
--related topic to audience
--established credibility
--previewed main points in transition to body
Body --organized main points effectively
--included transition between main points
--MORE,
KEEP
--used credible sources with identification of sources
--used two or more credible sources
--used language appropriate to topic and audience
--used visual aids appropriately (A-V aids = poster)
clear explanation
neat, easy-to-read design
relevant to purpose and audience
--showed mastery of the topic
Conclusion --provided a transition into the conclusion
--summarized main points
--ended with a memorable final thought
4. The quality of fulfillment of the above rubric will be evaluated using the following subjective terms:
A = brilliant, superior, excellent
B = very good, good, (might have been an A if the speaker had met the time limit)
C = adequate, fair
D = weak, very weak, poor
F = didn’t give presentation
YOUR
NAME_______________________________________________
SPEECH OUTLINE
Purpose of Speech: (Example—To inform about ______.)
What do you want the audience to remember?
Main Points in Body:
1.
2.
3.
Bibliography of Speech Sources
1.______________________________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________________________
Additional Sources or Comments: